Stephan studied computer science (minor medicine) at the University of Würzburg and finished his diploma in 2005, when he joined the SpaceMaster program in the first round. He received a joint Master Degree in Space Science and Technology from Luleå University of Technology, Sweden and Helsinki University of Technology, Finland in 2007. He started his PhD studies in 2007 and is currently working as a research assistant at the Department of Computer Science VII in Würzburg, focusing on small satellite systems.